Jackknifing is where the trailer spins out of control behind the towing vehicle and causes the vehicle to skid. The severity of a jackknife can begin very minor and can be stopped fairly easily but it can quickly turn nasty if not corrected.
Many people that are new to towing and have just had a top of the range trailer hitch fitted to their car will go straight onto the road. However, novice towing drivers are more likely to jackknife.
There are many different safety devices that help prevent jackknifing but your driving style will need to change before you start towing on a regular basis.
What Causes Trailers To Jackknife?
- Skidding of the wheels on slippery roads
- Excess speed
- Turning too quickly
- Locking off trailer brakes
- Poorly distributed cargo weight on the trailer
- Heavy wings or passing vehicles too quickly
The majority of the causes for a trailer to jackknife are easily avoidable but sadly it is still a common occurrence on roads worldwide.
Example Jackknifing
This happened in the UK and the lorry would have been doing 56 MPH, which means the towing vehicle would have been going to fast. Speed is a major factor that causes jackknifing and the caravan was swaying as he passed the lorry.
If the towing vehicle used a weight distribution hitch with sway control, things might have been a bit different but this is the cause of excess speed whilst towing.
How To Avoid Jackknifing
In order to avoid jackknifing all together, its vital that you abide basic towing rules. Below are ways to prevent jackknifing of your trailer when on the road:
- Distribute weight evenly on the trailer
- Brake gradually over large distances
- Prevent sudden harsh braking
- Avoid braking on large curves
- Keep to a max speed of 56 MPH
Simply taking extra care when towing a vehicle and remembering you actually have a trailer is the main aspect. Being too confident and going far to fast is a recipe for disaster and can cause a serious accident.
How To Correct A Minor Jackknife
A minor jackknife can be defined as one that is less than 15 degrees but regardless of the severity of a jackknife, you will want to do everything possible to prevent a nasty accident on the road.
The worst thing you can do is slam on your brakes, even if this is the first thing that comes in your mind during a jackknife. This was worsen the jackknife and cause the trailer to swing in further out and potentially hit the car.
The best way to pull out of a jackknife is to let go off the brake and allow the wheels to roll freely. If the jackknife is struggling to correct itself, an increase of speed may straighten things out again.
However, if speed is the issue and causing jackknifing, you will want to slowly bring up the gas pedal and not brake at all.
Safety Equipment
As technology has improved over the years, there are many new technologies designed to improve the safety of towing.
One such device that has become an essential part of towing a trailer within the US is a brake controller for trailers. It connects to the trailers electric brake system to help aid the braking of both the towing vehicle and trailer.
Extended side mirrors are also very useful as you should always be checking your trailer for any signs of sway. A larger view of your trailer is always beneficial.
For those that have a truck 5th wheel hitch, then you can use spring bump stops in order to prevent any movement of the heavy load.
Conclusion
Adding safety devices to your towing setup will always be beneficial but nothing will be more effective than careful and cautious driving. Jackknifing can be a scary situation and can be very dangerous. Knowing what to do in order to correct a minor jackknife and taking steps to avoid them in the first place is very important.
If you are new to towing, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to go for additional towing training as at the end of the day, it will make you more confident and a safer driver, which is always a good thing.
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